Nearly 1000 residents gathered to pray in Fayetteville Thursday, despite heavy rain and blustery winds.

National Day of Prayer observances in Fayetteville started on Courthouse Square at the County Administrative Complex.

Students gathered at 7 a.m. for praise and prayer before heading off to class. An additional 150 participants, mostly business people and homemakers, assembled at Fayetteville First Baptist Church, taking cover from the noon showers to pray for local pastors, elected officials and a "revival in the pew."

The Rev. Dr. John Avant, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, challenged those assembled to "choose life" and to walk through the window of opportunity he said God has opened up into revival. "We need to stir the apathy of our own city," Avant said.

The Rev. Tim Hepburn, pastor of the Catholic Church of St. Gabriel, said elected officials are instilled with God-given authority. He called upon citizens "to cleanse our own hearts," based on the Book of Samuel before leveling criticism against office holders.

The largest gathering of the day came together at 6 p.m.